Our Team of the World Cup 2026 so far is in: a best XI built on the numbers from the group stage and the opening knockout games. Lined up in a 4-3-3, it blends the tournament’s most miserly defenders with its deadliest attackers. Here is the side, and the data behind every pick. For the bigger picture, see our World Cup 2026 hub.
The Team of the World Cup 2026 (so far): our best XI
- GK: Unai Simon (Spain)
- DEF: Denzel Dumfries (Netherlands), Pau Cubarsi (Spain), Ruben Dias (Portugal), Jesus Gallardo (Mexico)
- MID: Pedri (Spain), Bruno Guimaraes (Brazil), Michael Olise (France)
- ATT: Lionel Messi (Argentina), Kylian Mbappe (France), Vinicius Junior (Brazil)
Goalkeeper and defence
Unai Simon (Spain) takes the gloves as the only goalkeeper with three clean sheets — Spain are the sole team yet to concede a goal at the tournament. In front of him, Pau Cubarsi brings the composure that has anchored that record, partnered by Portugal’s defensive leader Ruben Dias, who has kept two clean sheets of his own. At full-back, Netherlands’ Denzel Dumfries earns his place with two assists from right-back — the joint-most by any defender — while co-hosts Mexico’s Jesus Gallardo brings energy and two clean sheets down the left.
Midfield
The engine room mixes control and creativity. Pedri (Spain) pulled the strings as Spain came through their group without conceding a goal, alongside Brazil’s tireless Bruno Guimaraes, whose three assists are the joint-most at the tournament. Completing the trio is France’s Michael Olise, also on three assists, providing the final ball from the right of a midfield three.
Attack
The front three picks itself. Lionel Messi leads the way with six goals — no one has more — in a vintage Argentina run. He is joined by France’s Kylian Mbappe, who has four goals and two assists as Les Bleus won all three group games, and Brazil’s Vinicius Junior, electric on the left with four goals of his own.
Manager of the tournament so far
Luis de la Fuente gets the nod. His Spain side are the only team yet to concede a goal, winning two of their three group games, blending youth and control as convincingly as anyone. For our wider coverage, see the World Cup 2026 final predictions and the World Cup 2026 hub.
Honourable mentions
Plenty just missed out. France’s Ousmane Dembele was electric with four goals, including a first-half hat-trick against Norway, while Norway’s Erling Haaland also struck four times. England captain Harry Kane weighed in with three goals, and Germany’s Florian Wirtz caught the eye as one of the tournament’s sharpest creators.
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Our 4-3-3 best XI is: Unai Simon; Denzel Dumfries, Pau Cubarsi, Ruben Dias, Jesus Gallardo; Pedri, Bruno Guimaraes, Michael Olise; Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior.
Lionel Messi leads the scoring charts with six goals, ahead of Erling Haaland, Vinicius Junior, Ousmane Dembele and Kylian Mbappe on four.
Spain are the only side yet to concede a goal, with goalkeeper Unai Simon keeping three clean sheets in the group stage.
Bruno Guimaraes and Michael Olise share the lead with three assists each.